Héctor Herrera: “MLS players are overlooked” for Mexican National Team

The wide grin of Héctor Herrera had already opened up even before the advertising board was properly showing the waiting journalists which energy drink to buy on their next trip to the supermarket. The Mexican footballer sat down with the press as part of MLS’ monthly gathering of journalists all over the world in what was another batch of further evidence of the now global reach that the league possesses.

Herrera’s smile might well have been due to the fact that, as he says his recent physical problem “wasn’t really an injury, but a niggle”, and that he feels better in the affected area. had in his knee. “Every day I feel better and I want to get back to my level”.

“I’m very happy in Houston, with what we’re doing as a team, being with my family is very important and In try to live day by day to be in the best conditions to help the team.”

There was a theme to the questions, let’s be honest. It’s a week before the Copa América and Héctor’s smile is great, but sitting in front of a huge Houston Dynamo badge, not the crest of the Mexican National Team. “I always want to be there”, he admitted, “but there are other decisions and I have to accept that. If at any moment I see that I can help from whatever position I’ll do it, but right now it’s my turn to support from the outside and I’ll do it with a smile because I’m Mexican.”

Herrera: “It’s a bit strange that Chucky Lozano isn’t in the squad”

“I’m very happy to have players like Chucky in MLS” Herrera said, the broad smile on show again as he spoke of his friend (Herrera was part of San Diego FC’s welcome video for Lozano): “I have a good friendship with him and it’ll be great to come up against him here. I think Chucky is one of the best players [from] Mexico and he’ll help his team to grow, as well as the league.”

Neither Herrera nor Lozano were selected by manager Jimmy Lozano, a decision which the latter said made him feel disappointed. As to wether the ex-Atlético Madrid man felt the same, he said, “no, not disappointment but it surprised me not to see Chucky there. He’s a player who has been in Europe, it was a bit strange”.

“In my case” he continued, “I think MLS players are overlooked; as for myself, I have just got back from an injury and I have only played a few games, I expected [to be left ]. I wasn’t expecting the call, but I’m calm and focussed on my team.”

When probed, Herrera responded, with a clear message that was meant to be heard loud and clear from an veteran of the game: “I think players in MLS aren’t taken into account as much as they should be. The league is good and is growing well. I don’t know why it’s like this. I hope it doesn’t happen to Chucky, he’s younger than me and can still bring a lot to the team. But it’s not our decision.”

“If I go back to Liga MX it will be with Pachuca”

“I think there’s a long way to go”, Herrera admitted when asked about the performances of his club side this season. Despite the team having scored just 18 in 16 games - the lowest tally in the league - he thinks that Houston Dynamo are “on the right lines”.

“We’re not where we want to be, which is at the top ”, he responds when asked about the league standings, “but we’re on the right road and the team is playing well, we’re playing well and we aren’t getting the results we perhaps deserve but we’re doing things right, we want the playoffs”, he added.

“Last year we didn’t get to the MLS Cup, we lost at the final step against LAFC and we need to prepare a little more and that’s what’s important. To compete against the best you have to be on it.”

Héctor is a Pachuca youth product and he has not forgotten his roots, despite playing over 200 games in Europe and almost half a century of times in the US: “If I go back to Liga MX it will be with Pachuca”, he said with a conviction like no other answer previously, “and if not I’ll stay with Houston, I’m happy here and how the people treat me. Let’s see if I can get a three or four year contract!” The second half of the sentence, although perhaps not said entirely in jest, was accompanied with a smile and more laughter, the theme of a happy Héctor today.

Gracious on the pitch and gracious off it, what’s for certain is that Héctor Herrera is a man who wants to play in MLS and someone who is delighted to be part of the process as the league continues to grow in stature.